In the current study, we investigated how peer and familial social support may impact the relationship between minority stressors and mental health outcomes in a sample of LGBTQ+ adolescents. We hypothesized that greater levels of peer and familial support would be associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety symptoms among this population. Specifically, we predicted that higher levels of peer and family support would moderate the association between exposure to minority stressors and increased levels of psychological distress. To test these hypotheses, we conducted a secondary data analysis using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), which included over 10,0000 adolescents who self-identified as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, or other non-heterosexual orientations. Participants were surveyed annually from grades 7 through 12 (ages 12-18) regarding their experiences of discrimination based on sexual orientation, family rejection, victimization due to sexual orientation, and perceived community safety.
They completed measures of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms at each wave of data collection. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we examined the moderating effects of both peer and family support on the relationship between each type of minority stressor and mental health outcomes. Our results revealed that peer support was significantly associated with reduced levels of both depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms for all types of minority stressors. Further, the interaction effect between peer support and community victimization was significant, such that greater levels of peer support buffered against the negative impact of experiencing discrimination in one's community on mental health outcomes. These findings suggest that peer support may be an important protective factor for LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those who experience higher levels of external stressors related to their sexual identity.
This study provides valuable insights into how social support can help mitigate the negative impact of minority stressors on mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth. By understanding the role of peer and familial support in protecting against these negative effects, educators, counselors, and healthcare providers can better tailor interventions and services to meet the needs of this population. Future research should continue to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between social support and mental health outcomes among diverse populations and identify additional factors that may influence resilience and well-being among marginalized groups.